HTTP/1.1 200 OKServer: AkamaiNetStorageContent-Length: 42418Content-Type: text/htmlSet-Cookie: nk=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d; expires=Fri, 03-Oct-2025 09:33:06 GMT; domain=.weeklytimesnow.com.au; secure; SameSite=NoneSet-Cookie: nk_debug=nk_set; expires=Sun, 03 Oct 2027 09:33:06 GMT; path=/; domain=weeklytimesnow.com.au; SameSite=None; Secure;Set-Cookie: nk_ts=1711775422; expires=Sun, 03 Oct 2027 09:33:06 GMT; path=/; domain=weeklytimesnow.com.au; SameSite=None; Secure;Set-Cookie: nk=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d; expires=Sun, 03 Oct 2027 09:33:06 GMT; path=/; domain=weeklytimesnow.com.au; SameSite=None; Secure;Vary: User-AgentX-PathQS: TRUEX-ARRRG4: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/X-ARRRG5: /blaize/decision-engine?path=https%3a%2f%2fwww.weeklytimesnow.com.au%2fsponsored%2fPCt17bEQR1bdc3ngri5Y%2fbe-inspired-by-australias-most-innovative-farmers%3fnk%3dd4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d-1711775422&blaizehost=v4-news-au-weeklytimesnow.cdn.zephr.com&content_id=&session=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26dBlaizeHappened: trueContent-Security-Policy: block-all-mixed-content; style-src https: 'unsafe-inline'; script-src https: blob: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; img-src https: data:; frame-src https:;Content-Security-Policy-Report-Only: frame-ancestors 'self'; report-uri https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/csp-reportsStrict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000 ; includeSubDomainsETag: "2269b23d1129f7c076dff7dd0cf8c917:1710813641.05438"Expires: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:33:06 GMTCache-Control: max-age=0, no-cachePragma: no-cacheDate: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:33:06 GMTConnection: keep-aliveBe inspired by Australia’s most innovative farmers Be inspired by Australia’s most innovative farmers
Australia might have been built on the sheep’s back – but some of our most inspiring primary producers are changing the future of farming through innovation.
FutureAg, powered by AGRITECHNICA. Image supplied.
FutureAg, powered by AGRITECHNICA, Australia’s International Agricultural Exhibition and Conference.
The future of the world’s food security, and a massive cut in greenhouse gas emissions, could be partially solved by one simple premise: farming maggots.
It’s a breakthrough innovation that ACT farmer Olympia Yarger has worked hard to establish in Australia.
Her company, Goterra, has developed a system where black soldier fly larvae consume food waste inside a secure container. The result is a rich fertiliser for crops, with larvae being used as a protein rich animal feed – improving food security.
What’s more, by removing food scraps from landfill, Goterra is greatly reducing dangerous greenhouse gases that would otherwise be emitted as the food breaks down.
“The driving forces behind Goterra's initiative stem from the critical global challenges of food waste and protein shortage,” Ms Yarger said.
She explained the problem is much bigger than many people realise.
Olympia Yarger - ACT farmer. Image supplied.
“Food waste is responsible for eight per cent of global carbon emissions, with one-third of all food produced being lost or wasted, amounting to significant economic and environmental costs,” Ms Yarger said.
She explained that methane is emitted when food waste breaks down in landfill, which has a global warming potential 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By removing food waste from landfill, those gasses won’t enter our atmosphere, and the food can instead be turned into something far more useful.
It’s a solution some of Australia’s biggest industries are keen to embrace. For example, Goterra is partnering with Woolworths to reduce its packaged food waste, which will remove up to 6000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfill.
“We believe that collaboration is key,” Ms Yarger said.
“We have partners in both poultry and aquaculture who have significant demand for our insect protein due to its nutritional benefits. We are also working with farmers and soil-conditioning companies who want to use natural fertilisers to enhance their soils and produce growth, rather than use harmful chemicals and pesticides.”
She added that while her farming solution was innovative, she was determined to find even more ways Goterra’s systems could be used.
“We also partner with innovation organisations like CSIRO to find even more ways that these wonderful creatures can make farming and agriculture more sustainable,” she said.
BE INSPIRED BY INNOVATORS
The innovative solution is just one example of how Australia’s farmers are overcoming some of our biggest challenges.
These innovators will be coming together to inspire everyone from mum-and-dad farmers to our leading agricultural thinkers at the upcoming FutureAg Expo, which will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in April.
Event program manager Natalie Green said people like Ms Yarger are sure to inspire others to change the way they think about the future of farming.
“She embodies so much about what FutureAg is. She was a farmer trying to make a buck, and she was facing the challenges farmers face.
“And she discovered food waste was a huge problem, (so) she found a way to create insect farms powered by robots.”
Ms Green said the conference, which is part of the FutureAg Expo event, will feature a number of speakers across a huge range of agricultural industries. As well as improved sustainability, the conference will cover areas like smart farming, innovative machinery, and better use of energy.
And she is hoping that attendees will be inspired to rethink the way they practise agriculture to start making small changes.
“There are going to be real and practical ways that farmers can improve efficiency; to do more with less help,” she said.
“Throughout the conference programs are many actual farmers who are lending their voices. The whole point of it is to address real problems with real solutions right now,” Ms Green added.
Demonstrations and live activations at the event. Image supplied.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CUTTING EDGE OF FARMING
As well as the conference, the event includes a free expo which will showcase cutting-edge farming machinery and give farmers a hands-on opportunity to try products.
Commercial director at Hannover Fairs Australia Mike Nissen said the expo is a brilliant opportunity for people in the agriculture industry throughout Australia to come together and learn from one another, as well as experience the latest innovations in the industry.
He explained visitors will be able to learn more about AI driven machinery, autonomous drones and satellite-based equipment.
“There will also be demonstrations and live activations,” Mr Nissen said.
He said one particular demonstration will be popular among graziers, showcasing technology that makes farming much more precise.
“Technology that can identify an animal and provide feed specific to that animal (meeting their exact needs). This will create efficiencies on the financial side, and also in time, and improve the quality of the animal when it is sold off to market,” he said.
Mr Nissen said that no matter what sector of agriculture you work in, the expo will introduce you to new technology and ideas.
“Visitors can take away tangible solutions to their immediate needs on the land. They’ll know the products are tried and tested and they’re out in the marketplace,” he said, adding the event is also a brilliant way to network with other people in the industry.
It’s one of the things Ms Yarger is eagerly anticipating.
“I am looking forward to hearing from my learned colleagues and presenters, listening to the new trends and future trends being discussed,” she said.
She added she is also hoping her own work can inspire others in agriculture to take a chance.
“Most importantly I am looking forward to showing that a female CEO with a crew of purpose-driven people and investors can make impactful and sustainable change in a timely manner. Time being something that we no longer have to take action,” said Ms Yarger.
Register today at futureagexpo.com.au, April 17-19, 2024, at Melbourne Showgrounds.
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